122 EARLY HISTORY OF BRUNY ISLAND, 



When the ships entered the opening in the coast, 

 Labillardiere states ( 23 ) : "In vain we looked for Penguin's 

 "Island, thinking ourselves in Adventure Bay, though it 

 "really was Tempest Bay, named thus by Tasman, who in 

 "having entered it in the month of November, 1642, was 

 "in the most imminent danger of being driven ashore by 

 "a S.E. wind when he endeavoured to get into the main 

 "sea." (24 ) The French vessels eventually came to anchor 

 in the entrance to the Channel, and the following day, 

 after the boats had been sent cut and discovered a shelter- 

 ed harbour, (25 ) the ships were gradually towed towards 

 it, bub failed to reach the intended anchorage before 

 dark. A boat which had been sent out fishing "took so 

 "many at a single draught of the net that a distribution 

 "was immediately made, and every one contented with his 

 "portion." 



Labillardiere states that a few wild dogs were seen 

 in the neighbouring country. As the dingo did not reach 

 Tasmania, it is a matter for conjecture as to what animal 

 is referred to — probably Thalacinus. 



Whilst the ships lay at anchor two boats were sent 

 out to "reconnoitre the north-east side of Tempest Bay as 

 "far as Cape Tasman." They returned at the end of four 

 days, and it appeared from the result of their observa- 

 tions that "Tasman 's Headland and the coast of Adventure 

 "Bay make part of an island separated from Van Diemen's 

 "Land by the sea. After they had gone up the Channel as 

 "far as 43 degrees 17 min. S. lat, they were obliged to re- 

 "turn for want of provisions." 



For nearly a month the explorers stayed in the 

 sheltered waters of the bay, and on the evening of the 

 17th of May, 1792, the Recherche and Esjierance entered 

 the Channel proper — "to which we gave the name of our 

 "Commander, D'Entrecasteaux." Two days later Labil- 

 lardiere records landing on an island ( 26 ) which bounds 

 the Channel through its entire length. A boat from the 

 Esperance had passed the night at the same plaee, and 

 had taken a large haul of fish. The French Naturalist 

 records the collection of a number of plants new to science, 

 most of which "belonged to the genus of Melaleuca, Aster, 

 "Ejjacris, etc." 



A small island situated S. 42 degrees W. of the 

 second anchorage was denominated Partridge Island by 



(23) Labillardiere — Voyage in search of La Perouse. (Trans.. Lond. 

 1800.) 



(24) Labillardiere was perpetuating Furneaux's error, and presuming 

 the mouth of the Channel to be Storm Bay. Labillardiere is also in 

 error as regards the S.E. wind. Tasman was preparing to anchor in 

 what is now known as Adventure Bay, but was blown to sea by a. 

 N.W. gale. 



(251 Now known as Recherche Bay. 

 (26) Bruny Island. 



